What Is LN Item Code?
Also known as: Infor LN item code, LN item number, item code system
Definition
An LN item code is the unique key identifying a part, product, service or cost item in Infor LN. It is carried on every order line, bill of material and inventory record, and its length and segmentation are fixed in the data dictionary before go-live.
LN Item Code Explained
The item code is the most heavily referenced key in the entire application. Sales lines, purchase lines, bills of material, routings, inventory, warehouse orders, planning records, cost prices and integration transactions all carry it. That ubiquity is why its definition is a data dictionary decision made once and effectively permanent: widening or restructuring it after go-live touches every table that references it.
Baan IV constrained item codes to a short fixed length, and that limit is one of the more common reasons legacy Baan sites cannot adopt modern customer or industry part numbering schemes. Later Baan and LN releases widened the field considerably, which removes the hard constraint, though the exact maximum depends on the item data type as configured in your Tools environment and should be verified there rather than assumed from documentation of a different release.
Item type is the other defining attribute, distinguishing purchased, manufactured, generic configurable, cost, service, equipment and list items. Type drives which functionality applies: only manufactured items get bills of material and routings, only generic items are configured, and cost items behave as chargeable elements rather than physical inventory. Item groups and item default templates then supply dozens of downstream parameters at creation time, which is how consistent item setup is achieved at scale.
The perennial design argument is significant versus non-significant numbering. Codes that encode product family, material or size are readable but break when the business changes, and they leak classification into a key that cannot easily change. Non-significant sequential codes are opaque but stable, with classification handled by item groups, characteristics and cross-reference tables. LN supports both, but the second ages considerably better.
Why It Matters
- The item code appears on nearly every transactional table, so changing its definition later is a full-scale conversion.
- Legacy item code length limits are a frequent blocker for customer-mandated or industry-standard part numbering.
- Item type and item group defaults determine dozens of parameters per item, making them the main lever for master data quality.
- Significant numbering schemes encode assumptions that become wrong, and unwinding them costs more than the readability was worth.
In Practice
Before a migration, confirm the item code length in both the source and target environments and check every code that will be carried across. Legacy sites that padded, abbreviated or reused codes to fit an old limit accumulate collisions and inconsistent formats, and discovering that during cutover rather than during design is one of the more expensive ways to lose a weekend.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can an Infor LN item code be?
Baan IV enforced a short fixed length that many legacy sites still work around. Later Baan and LN releases widened the item field substantially. Because the exact maximum is determined by the item data type in your Tools data dictionary and can differ between releases, check it directly in your own environment rather than relying on documentation written for another version.
Should item codes be significant or sequential?
Sequential, non-significant codes age better. Significant codes that encode family, material or size are readable but become misleading when products change, and the classification is trapped in a key that is hard to alter. Use item groups, characteristics and cross-reference tables for classification, and keep the code itself as a stable, meaningless identifier.
Related Terms
LN Bill of Material
An LN bill of material is the parent-child list defining which components and quantities go into a manufactured item in Infor LN. Each line carries a position number, net quantity, scrap factor, effective dates and, optionally, the routing operation that consumes it.
Table Sharing
Table sharing is the Baan and Infor LN mechanism that lets several companies read and write the same physical database table, so master data such as items, business partners and currencies is maintained once and used by every company that shares it.
Cost Component
A cost component in Infor LN is a bucket that classifies part of an item's cost - material, operation, subcontracting, surcharge or general cost - so standard and actual cost prices can be broken down, rolled up through the bill of material and compared.
Go Deeper
Baan to Infor LN Migration Readiness Assessment
Score your organization's readiness to migrate from Baan IV or Baan V to Infor LN across ten dimensions, from data quality to executive sponsorship.
Baan ERP: History, Versions, and Modern Migration Paths
Baan ERP history from Triton to Baan IV, Baan V, and Infor LN, plus practical migration paths for manufacturers still running Baan today. Get a proven roadmap.
Infor LN to CloudSuite: Migration Playbook
Infor LN to CloudSuite migration playbook: Baan and LN version paths, extension conversion, ION integration rework, timelines, and defense compliance steps.
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Infor LN and Baan Customization Inventory Worksheet
Editable worksheet to list every Baan or LN customization with type, owner, effort and a retire, keep or replace decision.
New to Infor LN and Baan? Start with the Infor LN and Baan guide and toolkit, or plan with Training Path Builder, Upgrade Path Planner, ERP Table and Field Explorer.
Keep exploring
Free tools
- Infor LN and Baan Customization Inventory WorksheetEditable worksheet to list every Baan or LN customization with type, owner, effort and a retire, keep or replace decision.
- Infor LN Session and Module Code ReferenceSearchable list of the Infor LN / Baan package and module codes (tisfc, tdsls, whinh and others) with what each one covers.
- Infor LN Go-Live Readiness ChecklistGo or no-go checklist for an LN implementation, upgrade or Baan migration, with critical items flagged.
ERP fixes and how-tos
- MPN in Infor LN: Manufacturer Part Numbers, Items and SuppliersHow to manage a manufacturer part number (MPN) in Infor LN: item codes, supplier item data, alternates, and how to keep MPNs clean and searchable.
- Infor LN Item Group: Setup and MaintenanceHow item groups work in Infor LN: what they control for items, accounting and reporting, the Item Groups session, and a safe way to set up and maintain them.
- Infor LN Item by Business Partner Session: Where It Is and How It Links DataWhere to find item by business partner data in Infor LN, how purchase and sales sessions link items to suppliers and customers, and how to find the session code.
Runs with your ERP
- Infor Factory Track with Infor LN: barcode inventory, labor and lot or serial traceabilityFactory Track covers barcode inventory, job material, labor and lot or serial traceability for Infor LN and SyteLine. Setup, pitfalls and a private AI layer.
- Infor Warehouse Mobility (Factory Track) and Infor LN: RF scanningHow Infor Warehouse Mobility with Factory Track lets RF scanners post warehouse and shop-floor transactions to Infor LN, with setup, pitfalls and AI.
- SIGMA MES and Infor LNSIGMA MES from a certified Infor LN partner in Germany: how it connects to Infor LN, Infor OS/ION and web services, setup, pitfalls, alternatives and AI uses.
Guides
- BAAN 5 to Infor LN Complete Migration GuideMigrate from BAAN 5 to Infor LN comprehensively. 4GL analysis, data transformation, business process mapping, and organizational change management.
- Infor LN Domain Structure Design: Architecture GuideDesign robust Infor LN domain structures including data dictionary domains, table relationships, key definitions, and index strategies for BAAN/LN development.
- Baan 4GL Modernization: Strategies for Legacy CodeBaan 4GL modernization strategies: inventory legacy sessions, retire dead code, convert customizations to LN extensions, and de-risk your Baan installed base.
AI on your ERP
- AI for Infor LN in Aerospace and Defense ManufacturingAI grounded on Infor LN project, contract, and configuration management data for aerospace and defense manufacturers, with on-prem deployment for ITAR.
- AI for Legacy Baan IV/V: Capture the Knowledge Before It Walks Out the DoorUse AI to capture knowledge from ageing Baan IV/V systems, document undocumented customisations, and de-risk a future migration to LN or CloudSuite.
Integrations
- How to add WhatsApp to Infor LNHow to connect WhatsApp to Infor LN: ION BODs and APIs, template messages, opt-in rules, supplier confirmations and order status, including on-prem LN setups.
- How to add a mobile app to Infor LNBuild or add a mobile app for Infor LN: barcode scanning, goods receipts, inventory moves, labor reporting and approvals over ION APIs, with offline options.